Avoid the c class at all costs. I had one its such a garbage. Feels like an old skoda. Crappy interior. Everything is cheap, scratchy plastic. Buy a 3 series with the b58 or a 5 series with the same engine. They will serve you far better. And highly likely that the price will depreciate less.
Virtually any material can be tested in a a virtual simulation. The manufacturers know exactly how long each part will last and use the cheapest materials possible.
That's exactly 100% correct..its.all by design. I will never buy such shit build quality vehicles made today for that reason. They have really cheaped out on all materials. The main reason I will never buy.
Mean time between failure - this is the engineering term. They have it down to an art. I used to work for a major electronics brand, trust me they know everything about this. It's now everywhere, I saw this first 40 years ago in my field, now it's cars, houses. Nothing is designed to last.
simulation cost... most parts are designed by engineers only as shape doing things, without thinking on all issue that might arise, or making it cheap to manufacture, like why aluminum instead of lastic, why screw when we can sonic weld, or add clips to plastic housing...
As a retired 33 year accountant whose worked in several industries, corporate financial philosophies focusing on ROI and being investor centric coupled with planned obsolescence is the reason for our disposable wasteful existence.
Oil pans were made of stamped steel for years and would last for decades, then aluminimum which were more expensive and easily broken now plastic which will fail in less than 10 years probable more like 8 years.
But now it makes sense, you rent the car and then change for another. You're basically in perpetual debt, easy profit. Probably in 2030 there will be massive renting in houses and everyone will be happy, because now they'll have a home (in the beginning they'll pay just a little, but eventually they'll pay more and more until they won't be able to pay for it)
@@thejecs8That’s how property taxes work, it’s designed to make you lose your home once paid off, there are few regulations if any in place that prohibit price gouging.
40 year auto mechanic here. as far as i'm concerned anything after about 08 is garbage even by 2010 this electronic creep was occuring. Idealy you want to find something 04 and older in good condition with as low of milage as possible. these older good condition vehicles are worth thier weight in gold. I personaly drive a1994 dodge cumins diesel and as long as i can get parts for it I will keep driving it. my wife drives a 2006 mazda 3 . as retired people we would never be able to afford these new vehicles. I am not a fan of shiney bobbles in my vehicles anyways as I'm not a crow. I'm old enough to understand that the more complex something becomes the more fail point it will have, the less reliable it becomes and the more expensive it is to repair. And yes they are pushining the thining of engine and drivline parts to the limit. Nothing holds together like a cast iron engine with forged connecting rods and forged crank shafts.
after 08 they experimented with different materials. rather now some cars are getting better. americans have been crap since the 90s with only few models standing out. the europeans went dud after 08 due to financials but also they find they can make high margin cars and people will buy them and they still complain about financials for no reason when people prefer reliable cars. Its just the market, they figured if people still buy their cars they must be doing something right. other than tesla american car makers dont make good cars but tesla needs buttons, its safety related as you dont want to look away from the road to adjust something. if the market is dumb, so too are the manufacturers. Japan has limited resources, so they need to make those resources last, hence the stark difference. Americans have a lot more disposable income or rather want to bling, its a bad culture. europe only caters to its market who buys new every 3-5 years, so why make the material last longer than it needs to? they are engineers, its not about making the car last, its about the market.
mark: Reading your comment was like listening to my own brain. I do all my own work on my cars. Newest one is a 2006. They are charging $956 for a new key for my 911!
I used to work in Detroit and I tell people similar advice: It's best to buy a car made before 2008. Never, ever buy a car made after 2013. I drive a 2003 BMW and I had two mechanics shops tell me my make and model car is better than anything being made today.
I generally drive old beaters that pay for themselves MANY times over before getting junked, but this year I popped on a real Creampuff; a 1996 GMC Safari AWD Starcraft high-top conversion with ONLY 28k miles for $21,000.00. It has leather seats & electric bench, TV and cold AC. It's my weekend pleasure ride. I wouldn't trade it for ANY of the new crap on the market today.
Everything is like that.... If u buy a Walmart battery... With a year warranty... It'll go out 1 month to six months later. They test how long they last. And they don't wanna give out batteries..... But they want you to come back too .. they don't want you're battery to last 10 years....they want you to come back with more $
I just sold the first and last Mercedes Benz I’ll ever own. Despite being a trophy car, it literally started falling apart electronically from brittle wires that lost the insulation and either shorted out or opened the circuit. Cosmetically beautiful on the plus side. Ridiculously complex on the negative side. Wallet emptying dealer network.
Yeah, German cars drive nice but…. How many years did it take for it to begin falling apart? I’m a big fan of German cars. Which brand will you go to next?
I have owned a Porsche and BMW SUV. Both have had major problems and even worse maintenance bills. Just look what it costs to replace a battery, which are always dying on German cars. Got a Chev Tahoe, does the job, minor issues that have been cheap to fix, and easily booked in with more dealerships. In the end the excitement wears off and they are just another thing. Not worth the money.
Think about this $100k for one of these shiteboxes last 5 years that $20k a year thats $1666.00 a month Not including insurance, fuel and maintenance. So easily $2500.00 a month. who has that kind of money. Not me, not any of my family, not anybody i know. You will own nothing and be happy. Only the rich will have personal transportation.
all my cars are more than twenty four years old. The lowest mileage I have on one is 146,000 miles. You are right when you say they are not built to last any more.
My Cherokee '97 got an an exchange engine after 580.000km on its first one. Can pick it up tomorrow with an engine that 'only' did 150.000km's or so. Bought it in 2012 with 180.000km on its first engine, but now, after 12 yrs it needed an overhaul. Happy, because tomorrow it's mine again!!!
Typical plastic parts found on modern cars these days: - oil pans - oil filter cans - water pumps - thermostat assemblies - timing chain guides - most of the cooling system plumbing - fuel tank - transmission fluid pan - HVAC system air gates - valve covers (crazy!) - intake manifolds - PCV assemblies On top of that, some manufacturers decided to do away with the oil dipstick, so you must trust electronic sensors to figure out the engine oil level. This is getting absurd.
There’s a lot of nonsense being talked here. I worked in the trade in the 80’s and everything (except maybe Mercedes) was crap, utter crap. Anything over 5 years old was brushed up they rotted so fast and everyone had a tool kit in the boot(trunk). Then Japanese cars came along and showed everyone how to do it. Five things drive change, regulation, innovation, customer demand, competition and profit. All are part of a cycular economy to which we’re all part of. You win some you lose some. My 2014 car is the best I’ve ever owned and it’s got lots of plastic parts😆
A business friend of mine purchased a new Mercedes (against my advice) and collected the car on a Friday. That night after getting home and parking it inside her garage she noticed the headlights would not switch off, and there was a persistent faint hum coming from around the console. She thought the lights would go out automatically after a while but later that night they were still on and there was no way she could turn them off, and now the car wouldn't start, it wouldn't even crank, just a pop up message stating battery needs replacing. The stealership could not help until the following Monday when they sent a tech to her home with a new battery that morning, by early afternoon there were three techs there with laptops and tools everywhere. They eventually called a tow truck and took the car away and a week later she got it back with the explanation that a computer module in the trunk had failed causing the fuel pump, headlights and trunk release to malfunction. A fortnight later another module failed that operated the transmission, then the power windows, and finally a few months later another in the suspension. She was then informed the car had over 100 computer modules in it and they had discovered in data logs that another had failed that controlled the smart alternator. No more simple regulators, this system measures energy consumption and maps the charge delivery to economise based on engine load. That module failure had caused an over voltage situation that potentially damaged every other module in the car, likely causing her other failures, and there were probably more to come. She tried and tried to get refunded or vehicle replacement but to no avail, they simply stated the warranty would cover it as any problems arise, which they did, and so she eventually sold the car at a staggering loss swearing to never touch Mercedes again. Foolishly she then purchased a BMW...
@@ECPP I have 4 Toyota family like Corolla, Celica Trecel that made in Japan since 1980. I ran maintenance and used only OEM parts Zeven used JDAM) and never had a problem. Compare to Sweden Volvo, US made GM were nightmare when repaor.
Subaru is truly great Japanese quality. Keep it as long as possible, and if the clutch wears out, just don't hesitate: have a new one installed, although it will cost you a grand... after that, you can drive it for years to come!
I worked at sears in 2011. The Kenmore rep told me appliances were designed to last 5-7 years. Id imagine its 3-5 years now. When they first started becoming mainstream in homes they were sold as a lifetime investment. Cars are going the same way.
If you take care of it it’ll last. Bought a house that came with Kenmore washer and Dryer in 2014. I’m pretty sure it’s the same appliance that came with the house when it was built in 2007. The house was sold this year 2024 and the appliance still works! The Real Estate agent was even surprised.
Good grief, why would anybody buy a new car today knowing that down the road if the car breaks down the parts alone , like a headlight, will cost you more than a monthly house payment. No thanks, not for me. I should have kept my old 1962 Ford Falcon four door sedan. Now that was an easy car to work on and very reliable. For now I’ll just hold on to my current cars that are over twenty years old. Thanks for your great review.
When you buy a new car you have the latest crash protection along with modern conveniences. You also get 4 years and 50,000 miles of just preventive maintenance.
I prefer power windows because you can pull up next to a person walking on the sidewalk and put the window down and ask directions. But I guess if you are married, you are good. 😅
I have a '16 version of your car. Have had to do a ton of expensive maintenance. Multiple batteries, differential leak, PVC valve replacement (they don't call it that), gas cap cover goes out of alignment, brakes, spark plugs, filters, capacitors etc. Some maintenance, some not. Screen goes black every so often. Eats tires. Seat fabric is split and needs replacement (I have a cushion covering it at the moment. At MB rates, a ton. Car has 55K miles on it. Seems insane to me. Thanks for your video.
I have the '15 of that car 95k kilometers. My experience has been bad at all. Most expensive thing that went bad was a/c evaporator, change battery once (was pretty expensive 400usd), also changed both bottom arms as they started to make noise and the gas pump went out couple months back ( had to import the part from England). Otherwise it's just been just maintenance. I don't think that's bad for a 10 year old car.
My 2013 glk350 4matic has 57K, it warps the brake rotors about every 20,000 miles, if you use cruise control or sport mode. Keyless Go died a year ago. Otherwise two light bulbs. No problems with the cooling system and those quick connect radiator hoses either. Awesome car otherwise.
You are 100% correct. I think this is done on purpose by telling companies to make vehicles that fall in less in a few years. At the same time, they don't lose money as an entity through government funding and tax breaks. At the same time it'll Force consumers of cars to buy new vehicles they have government mandated with modification like breathalyzers and kill switches which will be the only options for the new and improved government vehicle that will also be Electric mark my words this is happening it's a slow kill of the gasoline engines... the Big Reset that is happening right now! Man, you're really smart. You're ahead of the curve as a youtube Creator. Keep up the great work!
When you’re a publicly traded company you aim to appease the shareholders. Year after year they want to see gains. When the gains slow, the company cuts back on quality and integrity. When there’s nothing left to cut, that’s when the layoffs start. From the bottom of course, all the while the top dogs get their bonuses and raises. Fast forward that trend see what happens.
@@tesmith47 Capitalism used to work better. We are comparing cars of today against cars of the past, but cars of the past were a lot better. They too, were produced under capitalism. Something else changed. I think the fruits of our labor are concentrating in too few hands. The rich have become much richer.
@@tesmith47 oh - yes capitalism sucks - I want my Trabant back. It never failed and if, I could repair everything with a hammer, a set of pliers and my girl friend's stockings as fan belt replacement.
I am a shareholder, and speaking as a shareholder, when profits get tight, I want them to raise their prices, and that is what they usually do. You are speaking from ignorance and cynicism. Ignorance and cynicism is not beneficial to society.
This guy speaks sense. Cars started going downhill about 1978. Before then they were pretty good. Nowdays ? Wow. Diesel V8 with plastic sump ? Crap like that.
1999 BMW 328, stick shift, I still love it. About 7k in maintenance in 25 years, still love it and runs great. Talked to a lot of mechanics and say that they were so much better made. I think they're right.
If they truly cared about the environment instead of 🤑🤑🤑 they would build stuff to last decades... whether we are referring to a toaster, a fridge, a washing machine or a car the most environmentally friendly one's have longevity! inbuilt obsolescence is not environmentally responsible so by definition battery cars that are being scrapped after small accidents are horrific for the environment 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Oh you are so right that's the huge , bigger picture. The stuff we trash is crazy,,, refrigerators dryers washers toasters microwaves cars. That's why I stopped using a microwave on the toaster I just warm up everything I need or toast it right on my glass top stove.
I am driving up the Pacific coast today in my 25-year-old BMW wagon. I did have to replace the radiator this year, but that and a window motor and some gaskets are the only parts repairs in two and a half decades. BMW and MB have gone in the wrong direction…
@@wxyzxdll The E46 M3 had rear sub frame issues, VANOS issues, valve adjustments etc.. But they still were great cars once you did these services / repairs.
Great video. I'm driving a 1993 T-Bird as my daily driver, this video helps me justify it, apart from how much I like the car and it fits my life so well. Naturally aspirated V-8 all the way!
NEVER do your oil changes at 10k miles, regardless of what anyone tells you. Maximum at 5k miles, preferably every 3k miles. That's if you want to take care of your engine and free of sludge and premature wear.
Thanks for making complete sense of what’s going on in the car world 👍 I’ve recently spent £7500 on dpf system , oil leaks due to plastic gaskets. If the engine blows this would cost £14000 the car is only worth £15000 It seams it’s not worth owning cars out of warranty 🤷🏻♂️ crazy world
I just placed an ad to sell my 2002 BMW 330ci convertible. It's a cream puff and 71,000 mi. Reading these comments I might just have to cancel the ad. I really love the car I just don't use it much but quality is there.
Love my older vehicles! Thanks for proving my point why I don't want a New car. We had a 2010 Challenger that spent so much time in the garage we used up our warranty and we got rid of it. Thank god. Loved the power and look but not the problems. My 2001 Mazda with 347,000 miles is fantastic with just regular maintenance and every once in a while replace parts. We've take care of it so it still looks nice. I also like the big windows. New car windows are also smaller and I just don't feel as safe due to lack of view.
Sadly, that seems to be a business model increasingly adopted by most automakers. Why build a vehicle that'll last 20 years when they can build something that will last barely the length of payments? Keeps folks on the hook for payments (and profits) til perpetuity.
No wonder my Mercedes which I bought brand new and on the fifth year, the transmission went out and I junked it! I bought a Toyota and never have to visit the dealership again. Only idiots drive Mercedes
So sadly newer Hondas and Toyotas actually not reliable as they used to be Too much plastic way over to much Technology all of these turbo crap in newer cars
I'm retired in cold country. I'm close to grocery stores and can walk for my basics but really all I need is a golf cart. No relatives anymore and besides I wouldn't want to physically meet them even when all were alive. Right now, I take my car out only in dry weather and I have a first generation intrepid, putting 4thousand miles a yr on it or less only for dentist and drs when needed. Give me a simple vehicle but probably could not afford it now with all the hyped up prices which get you nothing in return.
@marlonallen-v5y If you can find the parts. If the housing is broken up, you would have to replace it, although you can reuse the modules. I'm sure you can find a good used headlight assembly for significantly less with some searching.
@marlonallen-v5y If you can find the parts. If the housing is broken up, you would have to replace it, although you can reuse the modules. I'm sure you can find a good used headlight assembly for significantly less with some searching.
My Ford Fusion is 6 years old. I haven't treated it well - but even though that is the case, the only things I have had to do other than regular oil changes (78dollars at the dealership each year) is to change the wheels twice.
My sons 6 year old ford fusion just shit the bed, on the freeway, had it towed back to our house, apparently that motor has a design that makes replacing the pump that failed turns it into a throw away vehicle (which is what he ended up doing) because it cost more to pull the entire engine to fix the broken part than what the stupid vehicle was worth over all. He replaced it with the latest generation Toyota Prius. Will see how long it lasts for. Who knows these days
I’ve worked on older hybrids myself which some are beyond 15 years and the main battery is still original, just keep the battery air filter clean and drive reasonably without abusing the throttle as much as you can. Probably the quality is different across different countries. IDK?! The 12V auxiliary battery is usually okay to change but can be expensive. Mine is a deep cycle AGM battery which costs about $450 AUS.
I never got rid off my old vehicles my family and friends always kept telling me to buy new car , I have been driving my 1996 Chevy Blazer for 24 years no problems just oil changes every 3,000 miles I have 1979 Chevy pickup C10 for 17 years no problems , I'm keeping them
My Chevy Blazer has 246,000 miles engine sounds and drives like the day I bought it , and my 1979 Chevy pickup C10 Silverado has over 300,000 miles still driving strong the key is I do my oil change every 3,000
Glad you had good luck with the Blazer. I had a '98 GMC Jimmy that spent most of its life at the repair shop. Needed a head gasket at 5,000 miles and it never got any better. Only vehicle I ever owned that snapped a frame bolt. It was nice looking but it was cramped and we got rid of it as soon as we could. Most domestic stuff from the '80s and '90s was not good, I don't miss it at all.
The last new vehicle I purchased was a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Sport because the 2007 models were redesigned with power everything, plastic everything and tiny, underpowered engines. I also have a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. Both Jeeps have manual locks, steel bodies and the glorious inline 6 engine known for longevity. They are reliable, cheap and easy to fix.
The climate objective is to get 'old cars' off the road sooner so you can buy the next generation 'cleaner' tech at a higher price. The manufacturers have to play along and cover their cost. People driving old cars is dirty > sell cars that don't last more than 5 years > regulate older cars out of existence or force people to buy new car > insurance refuses to insure a older car > objective met
"....that don't last more than 5 years." Uh, I think you are exaggerating. Our 19 year old hybrid Lexus has tons of plastic, yet the only pieces that failed were the dash (replaced after 10 years, free of charge by the dealership) and a couple of side windows trim. My 2014 was in perfect condition when I sold it last year. It has the technology pack with super capacitor.
That’s why I’ll never get rid of my naturally aspirated vr6 stick shift 3.2L with timing chain only had to replace the radiator and fuel pump so far at 200k miles
26 old my E39 hasn't got anything broken under the hood. Yes, around the 24 year mark and 120,000k miles it had some oil leak and coolant leak issues from the gaskets, but after some maintenance and preventative chain and guides replacement, it now runs like a dream and engine looks as good as new after I had the cam covers acid dipped and painted. We bought a Peugeot e-208 with 21k on the clock, which had its windows jam up half way up, along with other problems from day one. We had to sue the dealer to fix these as it was sold with a perfect inspection record, in order to make them fix the car... Bought a brand new Hyundai Ioniq in 2018. The door seal went before I got to 20k miles under three years. Wasn't covered under warranty. My bosses brand new audi Q7 had recorded 30 faults in 6 months. His electric seats stopped operating. New cars are shite...
How depressing. So basically, wrt owning and operating a good car for say 10 years or so, we’re all basically fucked now. We’re all at the mercy of these jellybean manufacturers and in the end, we will own nothing. I fucking hate late stage capitalism.
there was a brief time in the early 2010s when mfg accidentally made a few cars that last forever. a lot of people think of a high voltage battery as a liability because of the Nissan leaf and prius, but if the battery is lipol and has a good thermal management system which is shared with a ice motor it will literally last forever like the chevy volt
I have been saying all of this for 5 years now and it's sad that most people I'm telling this to have not listened and they are paying big time for it just like I warned them they would and they are all in denial of it. I'm still driving my 90's built vehicles which I trust to drive me across the country if I need them to be problem-free. I'm able to repair and maintain all of those vehicles myself for very little money compared to the cost of any newer made vehicle today. What I disagree with you is that the people are asking for all these new safety features that newer cars come with. I have never heard a single person ever ask for any of these new nanny safety features before. In fact, I see people complaining about them that they can't just turn them off and they stay off. They have to spend 5 min trying to turn them off if they can every time they start their cars. These cars were all designed to only last as long as they are warranted on purpose. Car makers went out of their way to make sure that these newer cars will all start going bad as soon as their warranty expires costing their owners thousands of dollars to keep them on the road. Electronics are the weakest part of any car which is why 90s cars last 30 years and newer cars can't. The less electronics a car has, the longer it will last. So there is no way that I would ever consider buying an all-electric car. Those electric cars are just like a giant BIC lighter that you are supposed to throw away once it runs out of butane. So good luck selling that used-up BIC lighter in about 5 years. It will be worthless unless you spend 30k for a new battery and that will still not make those cars reliable again because those cars are now entirely electric which means all those parts will need to be replaced as well which means you will be spending lots of time at the dealerships who are the only people capable of repairing those cars slowly replacing parts every month as they all start to slowly fail. All electric cars are not serviceable by you anymore because you don't have access to the computers needed to diagnose these new electric vehicles. Car makers made sure to charge ridiculous amounts of money for access to those computers that even independent shops will have trouble to pay to access it. This was all designed to drain the people of all of their wealth rather quickly and there is no escaping it since every car maker in the world is now using this new business model. It doesn't matter anymore what brand of vehicle you decide to buy anymore, they are all doing this so you will be screwed the more electric that newer car is. I see these dummies acting all proud of these newer cars and I'm just laughing at them as those cars are really hurting their bank accounts. If you want a really safe car then buy a 60s or 70s model car. Those cars are built like tanks and will not kill you in a major car accident like these newer cars can. If you need your car to be constantly warning you and trying to prevent you from getting into an accident, then you need to learn how to drive and you shouldn't be on the road in the first place. I'm still seeing just as many wrecked cars as I did 30 years ago so these newer cars are not preventing accidents at all. And all of these newer cars are completely destroyed once they get into even a minor accident now because of the cost to repair them. So much for the environment and I hope you enjoy paying triple to insure these newer-built cars because those prices are only going to keep going higher compared to what they were before because insurance companies are not stupid enough to try to repair these cars because they know that its cheaper to just total that car than repair them. Car makers are also charging outlandish prices for their new cars today. I don't know who they plan on selling these cars to because people can't afford to buy a $50k Toyota Camry with their 90s salaries. So car makers better get used to having thousands of cars sitting in their lots unsold now because people in this country simply can't afford to spend that amount of money on them because they don't earn enough to purchase them. I would have bought a new Ferrari back in the 90s if that was the case. I didn't because I couldn't afford that amount of money and neither can the people today. Wages in this country have not gone up the same as the price of everything sold has so people are struggling just to survive and they don't have any money left to buy a newer car. People will spend their money on food before they buy a newer car. So car sales are going to get really slow in the future and might just come to a complete stop. The people who stupidly bought a newer car will be lucky to finish paying off that car and many will not so there will be lots of reppos coming in the future. Smart people will realize this and find a way to keep driving their old car if they still want to be able to drive to work every day. If they don't, they will find themselves out of a job because they will not have any way of getting to work anymore. Older cars are about to become a real valuable commodity since there are very few of them now compared to the newer cars out there. So buy yourself a old reliable car now while you still can buy one for cheap because those prices are already going up and those cars will become more expensive than these new cars are today for sure. That's because older cars were built to last and you can service them yourself. The most reliable older cars will be the new hot ticket in this country while newer cars will be sitting unsold until car makers return to their old business model again. If they don't return to that business model then they will more than likely go bankrupt because the people here don't have the money to afford to buy and maintain them once those cars warranty expires. Car makers need to lose all that electronic crap on their cars if they want to continue making and selling cars in this country. It's just that simple. They think they are going to make more money doing this and they won't because the people don't have that money to spend on them. They can't make what the people don't have and they are going to find that out the hard way. they already are. I have seen some dealerships still trying to sell to sell some of their brand-new 2023 models and it's now 2025. They don't even have any more room on their car lots for all the cars they can't sell. They have had to rent lots to store all of these cars they haven't sold yet. They are going to have to cut their prices in half if they want to sell those cars. And even then, it going to become hard to sell those cars because they are not built to last anymore and people are starting to realize that now. That knowledge is starting to sink in now and pretty soon, nobody will want to own these new cars anymore. Nobody wants a car that will only last 5 years before it needs to be thrown away because they won't be able to sell that car after 5 years for even one-quarter of what they paid for that car. It's even worse for all-electric cars because it will cost the owner money to dispose of that car because it costs lots of money to dispose of batteries properly. You can't just throw those cars away at the dump. They need to be completely dismantled to remove those batteries which costs lots of money that the owner will need to spend to dispose of that car's battery. So good luck if you were a sucker who didn't think buying a new car through before you bought it.
Well, when I go to car shows with 60s and 70s cars, every one has a newer or rebuilt engine and transmission. The entire interior had been replaced, and many body panels had been replaced. Rust had destroyed the frames as well. Exceptions are those old cars that are rarely driven, and were kept in heated garages. And let's not forget how many people's lives were saved by airbags and crumple zones. My 68 Corvette used to average 13 mpg. Today, my 2024 Supra gets double the gas mileage and is much much faster. There will always be pros and cons with older and newer vehicles, but the good outweighs the bad when it comes to safety and performance.
Its largely the emission regulations that pushes car manufacturers to reduce weight by down sizing the engine, uses turbo to compensate the power and further reduce weight by using plastic parts for better fuel economy.
Well, Not sure if it’s a good comparison, but if u look at the quality of packaging if u go out to do groceries has gone down a ton. The plastic and the carry handle around a 6-pack of 1.5L Coca-Cola bottles have significantly decreased in quality; they often break when you try to carry them. Not to mention, the carry handle has been completely removed in the EU altogether. I mean, plastic is OK. But the environmental restrictions and regulations are resulting in very bad quality plastics. If u look at a bucket u bought 20 years ago or so, compared to a newly bought one, the new stuff is flimsy as can be. Probably same story under the hood.
Hi Marcel, you are totally right about that. Look at modern paper bags, snow shovels, and virtually everything including household appliances. All substandard and engineered to last 5 years in my opinion. It’s simply not the same as it used to be and yes some Plastic is fine in not such critical areas but there are compromises to quality overall
I am appreciative of my 2013 Honda CRV EX which is naturally aspirated. Simple to operate and simple to maintain. And after Covid, my mileage is only 69,500 for an 11 year old Honda. I’ll be keeping it until the wheels fall off!
I had to replace a plastic fitting radiator hose on my Audi. It took me two hours. I had to peel away the old plastic bit by bit. It almost ruined the radiator.
Anything newer than 2017 isn't built to last and some cars made even before that weren't designed to last. The best time period for modern cars was between 2005 and 2015
@@dampergoldenrod4156 Yes, older cars can have their advantages, but they also have disadvantages. In the 80s and 90s "some" cars were over engineered because they didn't have advanced computer programs to figure out how strong a part needs to be so they just over built the part instead. I was specifically talking about "modern cars" that have airbags, ABS and do better in crash tests. Car from before 2005 weren't as safe. Plus older cars are harder to get quality parts for and they aren't as fuel efficient. That's why something like a Toyota or Honda from 2005 to 2015 is probably the sweet spot where you get reliability, simplicity, efficiency, safety and easy to find and cheap parts.
@@radioactivebanana6774 That depends on the specific make and model you're talking about. in the 50s to 80s there were plenty of junk cars. Just like there were plenty of junk cars in the 80s and 90s. My point is that "some" old cars like an old diesel mercedes w123 from the 70s and early 80s could last forever, but a Ford Pinto from that same time period was junk. The problem with 50s to 70s cars is they were A LOT less safe in a car accident and depending on the model a lot of the parts are impossible to find. Plus they take more work to maintain adjusting carbs and ignition points becomes a hassle and cars from that period were very bad for fuel efficiency which is always your biggest cost of ownership.
I drive a 2001 volvo S60 with more than 400K km on the clock, I give it good service with no sparing on parts and the car shows absolutely no signs of wanting to stop riding. As I live in the EU, I will most probably buy an EV at some point and I do not consider EVs as per se bad. But out of practical considerations I give this volvo ca. 10 more years on the road. The NA engine and the manual gearbox should not die before 1M km, the body does not rust and there are no problems with wiring and relatively simple electronics. And what's also extremely important - despite its age it is a pretty safe car with good grip on the road.
Its sick that a Mercedes Benz, one of the most expensive luxury vehicles has cheapened out on almost everything. I was never impressed with them except for the top models.
This is why I am keeping my 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback with MANUAL TRANSMISSION (no transmission issues) with 176,000 miles on it. When oil changes are done regularly, these 2.0L NA engines go 300K to 500K miles!! I have always done my own work on my cars. When it was time for new balljoints I found they are integral to the lower control arm and has to be replaced as a unit. Well, I have new bushings as well as a result, so the ride is great. AS FOR COST....I got a brand new set of Ford lower controls arms, still in the plastic, off of ebay for $220 FOR BOTH. That was a steal. Labor was free as I did it myself. Doing my own oil changes cost about $35 for quality oil and filter instead of $70 to have it done (Whatever happened to $19.95?). My engine still runs like new. It is a great and fun car, when you don't have the "manual automatic" DCT. The only thing that makes ZERO sense is the times I go out to the car for the first time of the day, I open the driver's door, and the radiator fan comes on. WTF? How is the driver's door connected to the radiator fan system?? I replaced the fan control module and nothing changed, so that's not it.
Big reliability issues apparently now surfacing in Europe with Peugeot and Ford 1.1 and1.2 litre turbo engines that they have widely used to replace their 1.4 to 2.0 litre engines
Too much compression for such as small space. Physics will let you know what’s practical and what’s not. I guess the engineers think they can squeeze as much power out of smaller and smaller sized engines without compromising quality, which I guess if designed properly it would seem feasible.
My 03 Focus had a rusted body, subframe and exhaust by '18 or '19. My - cheap, but good and semi retired - mechanic told me to move on, but I asked him to fix it. Then my clutch started to fail and I finally gave in. Still miss that car though and wonder if a couple thousand euros could have kept it on the road till now.
I still prefer cars from the 60's and 70's. Not so much about the fuel economy, but because anyone with effort can turn a wrench and fix them. It isn't brain surgery. Now... Even certified technicians have issues figuring out what goes wrong with new vehicles. It's all a waste. And we are being forced to pay insane prices for glorified LEGO calculators. No thank you.
We are talking about modern high tech plastic here which have several advantages compared to traditional materials, including low weight, and it's designed to be able to resist heat. Don't compare it to the plastic used in kids' toys.
My 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid over 13 years old, no problem except ac and door handles at trade in. Personal maintenance from new, it retailed for less than $21k new. I replaced the 12v battery twice $60 each time. It still had the original brake pads at trade in. I don't know what your talking about. Traded at over 140,000 miles.
The plastic parts should be very cheap to replace, mechanic said the newer parts costs more to buy than the old metal parts it replaced and takes longer to replace
It's not just the engines. It's the extra gears in the transmissions in a similar sized space causing durability issues. BUT they supposedly contribute to lower emissions.
If you change "good oil" And flush engine when it's required for turbo engine and don't forget good detergent for fuel injection. In my humble 40 years in German cars. They rarely have the problem you mentioned. I said my experience 90% of the owners won't taking any mantaince《good additive 》until it broken, most of us love these kind of owner. 😢😢😢
My 2024 Supra with twin scroll turbo 3.0 liter i6 engine will switch on a hurricane wind - generated fan after I turn off the engine. (After accelerating briskly within a few minutes of shutting off the engine) So there are ways to keep the engine bay plastics from becoming brittle. I always place a windshield screen up when parking for a while on a sunny day. This really helps to keep the interior cooler, especially when the interior is black.
BMW in the uk charge approx £8k to £10k for a hybrid battery in the 3 series. So if you bought a 3 series second hand for less than £10k and then next year the battery goes.... Then its scrap isnt it? Just silly money for new battery. My house storage battery with only slightly less capacity retails at £3k so how bmw can justify the price is beyond me.
I have a friend with a low mileage 2004 Lincoln Town Car. Got it from an older couple. He loves it and says he doesn't care if its a grandpaw car. Drivetrain is basically Crown Vic and very reliable. Comfortable car also.
I ride a 2012 BMW R1200GS - Its a Boxer Twin It does 55mpg, has a 125mph top speed, shaft drive and *NEVER* ever, ever goes wrong - as its an iconic 100yr old design evolution Its parked outside in ALL weathers, all the time, scorching hot & devastatingly freezing cold (Like the trusty VW Beetle Flat-Four) I use it 350+ days a year, and it costs an embarrassing small amount to insurance etc . . . .and ridiculously small £'s amounts in 'consumables' , and Ive now done 62,000 miles I have a top box, voluminous panniers & a sturdy back pack, so everyday living is a 'doddle' New cars - Nah, no thanks !
Thanks for your feedback at BMW we shall use this testimony at our weekly meetings to discuss new ways of maximizing profits in our motorbike department. 😂😂😂😂
I’ve got a 1996 BMW R1100GS , it’s done 70k miles and runs very sweet , I took it on a trip to the Scottish highlands this year and it did the job perfectly through fast sweeping bends to very tight mountain routes .
@@allseeingotto2912 - Agreed, Its the only German Bike i've had . . . . . & i wish id known how good they were when i was swapping & changing Jap bikes every few years!. Wonder if the newer Water-cooled models are as good !
Coz of “green transition”. Use more plastic to reduce weights and less emission. Result is drop on quality and reliability. Co of EV and fines they occurs are forced to rise the price which less and less people will buy. Now, do you see the future how it will be? It’s simple mathematics
Excellent video. I have a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis that has an NA 4.6L V8, and aside from replacing the plastic intake manifold at 100K, I have never had an issue and it’s still running strong today.
I don't understand why people still but new cars if you want to send a message to the car manufacturers to stop making garbage let them go out of business but unfortunately I'm convinced most people are stupid burning their money and throwing it at the car dealers
People just don’t know what their car is underneath so therefore really worth. Their perception is based on brand’s appearance. Modern cars are just made for modern and normal people, which is sadly exploited by most manufacturers.
Greetings from the U.K. I’m 60YO, I’ve done most of my car maintenance myself over the years. I agree with most of this video. My first car was a 1974 Renault 12, for the time it was ok, but ‘70s cars were pretty crap; rust, rubbish electrics etc. The best cars came in the late 1990’s, rust problems were mostly solved, electrics were much better, fuel injection was well engineered and reliable. But now cars are not so good, I worked on a modern BMW that had an intake manifold cast in plastic- absolutely mad!
If environmental regulations aimed to protect nature but inadvertently led to vehicles becoming disposable commodities, the net environmental impact may have been counterproductive. The manufacturing of new vehicles requires significant resource extraction and energy consumption, while premature disposal of vehicles creates substantial waste. A more effective approach would balance emissions standards with vehicle longevity and repairability to achieve genuine environmental benefits.
There is an undisclosed long term problem with heat and oil giving off toxins that find there way into the cabin. Plastic household kettles spring to mind.
Similar to myself, I only drive 2,500 per year, and get the car serviced every year. Even get the auto transmission oil changed every 3 years, which is recommended, but in my case every 7,500 miles so probably OTT. 14 year old engine ticks over like new.
Guys, I was looking to buy a c300 coupe 2019, but now I'm not sure if I should.
Oh wait. This week I share my overall experience with this car. It’s an eye opener
You need to buy diesel. Euro cars should be diesel
🫵🤣
cars from the 90 ties are the best drive a bicycle in the town and a old car outside
Avoid the c class at all costs. I had one its such a garbage. Feels like an old skoda. Crappy interior. Everything is cheap, scratchy plastic. Buy a 3 series with the b58 or a 5 series with the same engine. They will serve you far better. And highly likely that the price will depreciate less.
Virtually any material can be tested in a a virtual simulation. The manufacturers know exactly how long each part will last and use the cheapest materials possible.
That's exactly 100% correct..its.all by design. I will never buy such shit build quality vehicles made today for that reason. They have really cheaped out on all materials. The main reason I will never buy.
Bingo. Advances in simulation destroyed reliability.
Mean time between failure - this is the engineering term. They have it down to an art. I used to work for a major electronics brand, trust me they know everything about this. It's now everywhere, I saw this first 40 years ago in my field, now it's cars, houses. Nothing is designed to last.
Planned obsolescence..
simulation cost... most parts are designed by engineers only as shape doing things, without thinking on all issue that might arise, or making it cheap to manufacture, like why aluminum instead of lastic, why screw when we can sonic weld, or add clips to plastic housing...
We have allowed ourselves to live in a disposable world.
Well said
As a retired 33 year accountant whose worked in several industries, corporate financial philosophies focusing on ROI and being investor centric coupled with planned obsolescence is the reason for our disposable wasteful existence.
can't wait for @pple to make a home
subscription to live in it
and the walls cave in after 8 years
This trend will ultimalty lead to no personal transportation. I'm glad that i'm old.
@@markseehawer3762 agreed
The idea of plastic valve covers and oil pans is really distressing.
Some cars even have plastic water pumps now.
Oil pans were made of stamped steel for years and would last for decades, then aluminimum which were more expensive and easily broken now plastic which will fail in less than 10 years probable more like 8 years.
I agree.
I just spent 7 months working at a Ford factory. I was absolutely bewildered when I saw the plastic oil pans on the engines
Must be bad up north (engine operating temp [210° F. coollant] ) then -20° F
Fuel efficient does not necessarily mean better economy. You are getting a price break on gas but much bigger expenses down the road.
It is all about the cost of ownership and many times they aren’t cheaper over the long run
The 4 cylinder in the new chevy trucks aren't even better on gas than the V8
People pay many thousands of dollars to save a few hundred on fuel. Oh well. Same with repairs.
Add weight to the vehicle, like I do, and you lose economy.
Which is why I drive a 1996 Town Car and Fluid Film the underbody every year.
"You will own nothing and be happy."
Or a fifty thousand dollar car and be unhappy.
But now it makes sense, you rent the car and then change for another. You're basically in perpetual debt, easy profit. Probably in 2030 there will be massive renting in houses and everyone will be happy, because now they'll have a home (in the beginning they'll pay just a little, but eventually they'll pay more and more until they won't be able to pay for it)
@@thejecs8That’s how property taxes work, it’s designed to make you lose your home once paid off, there are few regulations if any in place that prohibit price gouging.
Not quite... he left out the bit about owning the debt.
@@thejecs8 bankers do not get rich if everyone is not in debt
40 year auto mechanic here. as far as i'm concerned anything after about 08 is garbage even by 2010 this electronic creep was occuring. Idealy you want to find something 04 and older in good condition with as low of milage as possible. these older good condition vehicles are worth thier weight in gold. I personaly drive a1994 dodge cumins diesel and as long as i can get parts for it I will keep driving it. my wife drives a 2006 mazda 3 . as retired people we would never be able to afford these new vehicles. I am not a fan of shiney bobbles in my vehicles anyways as I'm not a crow. I'm old enough to understand that the more complex something becomes the more fail point it will have, the less reliable it becomes and the more expensive it is to repair. And yes they are pushining the thining of engine and drivline parts to the limit. Nothing holds together like a cast iron engine with forged connecting rods and forged crank shafts.
Yep have 2001 infinity and 2006 Chrysler 300c hemi now that’s a engine.
after 08 they experimented with different materials. rather now some cars are getting better. americans have been crap since the 90s with only few models standing out. the europeans went dud after 08 due to financials but also they find they can make high margin cars and people will buy them and they still complain about financials for no reason when people prefer reliable cars.
Its just the market, they figured if people still buy their cars they must be doing something right. other than tesla american car makers dont make good cars but tesla needs buttons, its safety related as you dont want to look away from the road to adjust something. if the market is dumb, so too are the manufacturers. Japan has limited resources, so they need to make those resources last, hence the stark difference. Americans have a lot more disposable income or rather want to bling, its a bad culture. europe only caters to its market who buys new every 3-5 years, so why make the material last longer than it needs to? they are engineers, its not about making the car last, its about the market.
mark: Reading your comment was like listening to my own brain. I do all my own work on my cars. Newest one is a 2006. They are charging $956 for a new key for my 911!
I used to work in Detroit and I tell people similar advice:
It's best to buy a car made before 2008. Never, ever buy a car made after 2013.
I drive a 2003 BMW and I had two mechanics shops tell me my make and model car is better than anything being made today.
I generally drive old beaters that pay for themselves MANY times over before getting junked, but this year I popped on a real Creampuff; a 1996 GMC Safari AWD Starcraft high-top conversion with ONLY 28k miles for $21,000.00.
It has leather seats & electric bench, TV and cold AC. It's my weekend pleasure ride. I wouldn't trade it for ANY of the new crap on the market today.
Cars are now built to last the warranty period. GREAT
Wasn't it Ford that started product obsolescence?
Everything is like that.... If u buy a Walmart battery... With a year warranty... It'll go out 1 month to six months later. They test how long they last. And they don't wanna give out batteries..... But they want you to come back too .. they don't want you're battery to last 10 years....they want you to come back with more $
It's been like that for decades now.
so true
better to lease than buy now
I just sold the first and last Mercedes Benz I’ll ever own. Despite being a trophy car, it literally started falling apart electronically from brittle wires that lost the insulation and either shorted out or opened the circuit. Cosmetically beautiful on the plus side. Ridiculously complex on the negative side. Wallet emptying dealer network.
That’s been my experience too. Dealers are great at cleaning out your account on devastating maintenance and unexpected repairs
Yeah, German cars drive nice but…. How many years did it take for it to begin falling apart? I’m a big fan of German cars. Which brand will you go to next?
@@brunellom8914 He should go Lexus or Acura. Much more reliable and they are decent to drive.
I have owned a Porsche and BMW SUV. Both have had major problems and even worse maintenance bills. Just look what it costs to replace a battery, which are always dying on German cars. Got a Chev Tahoe, does the job, minor issues that have been cheap to fix, and easily booked in with more dealerships. In the end the excitement wears off and they are just another thing. Not worth the money.
Mercedes had some very very reliable models back in the day.
Probably the best narrative I have heard on the subject of designed obsolescence and complexity for automaker profit.
Thank you.
Think about this $100k for one of these shiteboxes last 5 years that $20k a year thats $1666.00 a month Not including insurance, fuel and maintenance. So easily $2500.00 a month. who has that kind of money. Not me, not any of my family, not anybody i know. You will own nothing and be happy. Only the rich will have personal transportation.
They are going to destroy their reputation. I love the look of those luxury cars but the quality and part prices are a turn off.
My dads 1998 buick lesabre with v6 was a true beast. Drove that thing for over 20 years never had any issues
They are great from back in the day
3.8 l GM is the most reliable engine out there, I have a Grand Prix with almost 500, 000 kms (350k miles)
@natelysy3114 I live in Europe now so I don't get to see too many GM cars anymore. I always loved the grand prix
Absolutely one of the most reliable modern cars made.
That thing was a tank especially in the snow
all my cars are more than twenty four years old. The lowest mileage I have on one is 146,000 miles. You are right when you say they are not built to last any more.
mine are from 1996 and 2002. They both run great still.
I got Toyota 4runner 2001 .one owner - my . 626.000 + miles .still runs daily 63ml.
My Cherokee '97 got an an exchange engine after 580.000km on its first one. Can pick it up tomorrow with an engine that 'only' did 150.000km's or so. Bought it in 2012 with 180.000km on its first engine, but now, after 12 yrs it needed an overhaul. Happy, because tomorrow it's mine again!!!
Out of my 5 vehicle’s the newest us a 2008 Dodge 1 ton single wheel diesel with 80,000 kilometres on it. All are older low mileage.
My 1991 Dodge Stealth R/T AWD AWS with 77,000 original miles, runs just peachy!!!!
6000 dollars per headlight!? My first car didnt even cost 6 grand haha.
My last car wasn't 6 grand
That’s an expensive bulb
That was the cost of my transmission replacement with labor for my 14 Accord
Mw bmw light is 2000. Luckily I never had to replace it ...
The crazy times that we live in
Typical plastic parts found on modern cars these days:
- oil pans
- oil filter cans
- water pumps
- thermostat assemblies
- timing chain guides
- most of the cooling system plumbing
- fuel tank
- transmission fluid pan
- HVAC system air gates
- valve covers (crazy!)
- intake manifolds
- PCV assemblies
On top of that, some manufacturers decided to do away with the oil dipstick, so you must trust electronic sensors to figure out the engine oil level. This is getting absurd.
Ah but eliminating that oil dip stick saved them one dollar!!!
Yup my car has had 2 coolant leaks due to a plastic/aluminum radiator and plastic thermostat housing.
Not my 22 Corolla! A lot of that stuff is metal including the valve cover. It didn't even come with the stupid beauty cover.
There’s a lot of nonsense being talked here. I worked in the trade in the 80’s and everything (except maybe Mercedes) was crap, utter crap. Anything over 5 years old was brushed up they rotted so fast and everyone had a tool kit in the boot(trunk). Then Japanese cars came along and showed everyone how to do it. Five things drive change, regulation, innovation, customer demand, competition and profit. All are part of a cycular economy to which we’re all part of. You win some you lose some. My 2014 car is the best I’ve ever owned and it’s got lots of plastic parts😆
We'll know the consumer revolution has begun when used cars before 2010 start getting more expensive.
Once the electronics go,it's a done deal.
Exactly
@@ECPPwith EVs, they're even more software dependent.😢
Perfect Comment!
. . . . [Additional] - Chinese Electronics Too - Enough said
A business friend of mine purchased a new Mercedes (against my advice) and collected the car on a Friday. That night after getting home and parking it inside her garage she noticed the headlights would not switch off, and there was a persistent faint hum coming from around the console. She thought the lights would go out automatically after a while but later that night they were still on and there was no way she could turn them off, and now the car wouldn't start, it wouldn't even crank, just a pop up message stating battery needs replacing. The stealership could not help until the following Monday when they sent a tech to her home with a new battery that morning, by early afternoon there were three techs there with laptops and tools everywhere. They eventually called a tow truck and took the car away and a week later she got it back with the explanation that a computer module in the trunk had failed causing the fuel pump, headlights and trunk release to malfunction. A fortnight later another module failed that operated the transmission, then the power windows, and finally a few months later another in the suspension. She was then informed the car had over 100 computer modules in it and they had discovered in data logs that another had failed that controlled the smart alternator. No more simple regulators, this system measures energy consumption and maps the charge delivery to economise based on engine load. That module failure had caused an over voltage situation that potentially damaged every other module in the car, likely causing her other failures, and there were probably more to come. She tried and tried to get refunded or vehicle replacement but to no avail, they simply stated the warranty would cover it as any problems arise, which they did, and so she eventually sold the car at a staggering loss swearing to never touch Mercedes again. Foolishly she then purchased a BMW...
Again, I am keeping my excellent condition 2006 Forester, 107 k miles, loaded and with a manual trans. Bought it new over 18 yrs ago !
If you have a good vehicle these days they are worth holding onto
Nice - Nothing wrong with that . . . . Just change the Oils regularly, and you're Good !
Mend & repair - Respect
@@ECPP I have 4 Toyota family like Corolla, Celica Trecel that made in Japan since 1980. I ran maintenance and used only OEM parts Zeven used JDAM) and never had a problem. Compare to Sweden Volvo, US made GM were nightmare when repaor.
Subaru is truly great Japanese quality. Keep it as long as possible, and if the clutch wears out, just don't hesitate: have a new one installed, although it will cost you a grand... after that, you can drive it for years to come!
Subaru head gasket failures galore. Oil burning galore. Do research people. Same with Toyota 2.4L engines. Don't blanket trust any brand.
I worked at sears in 2011. The Kenmore rep told me appliances were designed to last 5-7 years. Id imagine its 3-5 years now. When they first started becoming mainstream in homes they were sold as a lifetime investment. Cars are going the same way.
It seems like the newer models are built for a shorter lifespan these days.
My Kenmore refrigerator is 34 yo.
My Speed Queen dryer was used when I bought it in 1991, still have it, replaced a few parts. 😅 I'm a mechanic, I have to fix everything.
@@jimw7550mine only lasted 25 years but my Speed Queen dryer is well over 34 years old, replaced a few parts initially, none since 2000. 😅
If you take care of it it’ll last. Bought a house that came with Kenmore washer and Dryer in 2014. I’m pretty sure it’s the same appliance that came with the house when it was built in 2007. The house was sold this year 2024 and the appliance still works! The Real Estate agent was even surprised.
Its called corporate greed.
It’s called capitalism.
It’s called government delusion and control
Good grief, why would anybody buy a new car today knowing that down the road if the car breaks down the parts alone , like a headlight, will cost you more than a monthly house payment. No thanks, not for me. I should have kept my old 1962 Ford Falcon four door sedan. Now that was an easy car to work on and very reliable. For now I’ll just hold on to my current cars that are over twenty years old. Thanks for your great review.
Most people get taken away by appearance
Man ulez makes it where older cars arnt as viable option anymore which is sad
ULEZ is London isn't it? Why would you want to drive in London, thst place is insanely packed XD
@dallysinghson5569 cus people live there. Crazy concept I know
When you buy a new car you have the latest crash protection along with modern conveniences. You also get 4 years and 50,000 miles of just preventive maintenance.
Notice the pretty cover over the engine not allowing the heat to escape.
I'm a mechanic, I have removed both bottom and top covers from my Mercedes Benz, less heat, fewer places for mice to live, faster oil changes. 😅
Remove it imminently, wrap it in cotton wool and protect it, then re-install when you go to sell, so it looks little used.
I have 2005 Jaguar XJ 3.0 V6, 80k miles on it runs like a dream. Well built and reliable, still looks almost new
The crank windows on my '57 Chevy Nomad still work fine. Only gets 11 miles to the gallon, but I haven't had a car payment in 51 years.
I prefer power windows because you can pull up next to a person walking on the sidewalk and put the window down and ask directions. But I guess if you are married, you are good. 😅
@Matthew_Loutner LOL
I have a '16 version of your car. Have had to do a ton of expensive maintenance. Multiple batteries, differential leak, PVC valve replacement (they don't call it that), gas cap cover goes out of alignment, brakes, spark plugs, filters, capacitors etc. Some maintenance, some not. Screen goes black every so often. Eats tires. Seat fabric is split and needs replacement (I have a cushion covering it at the moment. At MB rates, a ton. Car has 55K miles on it. Seems insane to me. Thanks for your video.
Thanks so much and I will share our experience too soon
I have the '15 of that car 95k kilometers. My experience has been bad at all. Most expensive thing that went bad was a/c evaporator, change battery once (was pretty expensive 400usd), also changed both bottom arms as they started to make noise and the gas pump went out couple months back ( had to import the part from England). Otherwise it's just been just maintenance. I don't think that's bad for a 10 year old car.
My 2013 glk350 4matic has 57K, it warps the brake rotors about every 20,000 miles, if you use cruise control or sport mode. Keyless Go died a year ago. Otherwise two light bulbs. No problems with the cooling system and those quick connect radiator hoses either. Awesome car otherwise.
Im sorry that you didnt get the memo. We all learned the hard way.
my diesel Subaru Outback keeps warping discs @@melissasmess2773 can you elaborate about your experience?
You are 100% correct. I think this is done on purpose by telling companies to make vehicles that fall in less in a few years. At the same time, they don't lose money as an entity through government funding and tax breaks.
At the same time it'll Force consumers of cars to buy new vehicles they have government mandated with modification like breathalyzers and kill switches which will be the only options for the new and improved government vehicle that will also be Electric mark my words this is happening it's a slow kill of the gasoline engines... the Big Reset that is happening right now! Man, you're really smart. You're ahead of the curve as a youtube Creator. Keep up the great work!
Thanks! I'm seeing this too and hope it isn't true but the signs are definitely there.
Is Elon part of the "Big reset"? His cars are some of the most complex.
Mercedes and BMW are making the biggest savings in production at the expense of customers, and for their own higher profits
When you’re a publicly traded company you aim to appease the shareholders. Year after year they want to see gains. When the gains slow, the company cuts back on quality and integrity. When there’s nothing left to cut, that’s when the layoffs start. From the bottom of course, all the while the top dogs get their bonuses and raises. Fast forward that trend see what happens.
CAPITALISM!!!
@@tesmith47 Capitalism used to work better. We are comparing cars of today against cars of the past, but cars of the past were a lot better. They too, were produced under capitalism. Something else changed. I think the fruits of our labor are concentrating in too few hands. The rich have become much richer.
Consolidation and monopolies.
@@tesmith47 oh - yes capitalism sucks - I want my Trabant back. It never failed and if, I could repair everything with a hammer, a set of pliers and my girl friend's stockings as fan belt replacement.
I am a shareholder, and speaking as a shareholder, when profits get tight, I want them to raise their prices, and that is what they usually do.
You are speaking from ignorance and cynicism. Ignorance and cynicism is not beneficial to society.
Planned obsolescence. Saved you 17 minutes.
consumer capitalism... add that to your arsenal my friend
You will own NOTHING and be HAPPY.
They are making it a reality.
They? No. Everybody. Weare all playing a role in making this a reality.
This guy speaks sense. Cars started going downhill about 1978. Before then they were pretty good. Nowdays ? Wow. Diesel V8 with plastic sump ? Crap like that.
1999 BMW 328, stick shift, I still love it. About 7k in maintenance in 25 years, still love it and runs great. Talked to a lot of mechanics and say that they were so much better made. I think they're right.
Its an E46. Nice nice car.
You forgot the infotainment system that control everything inside car. If that goes, you’ll have to toll it the dealer to fix.
The screen on my 2017 x3 is toast. $2500+ at a dealership or $71 for the part to do myself. Dealerships are a rip off.
If they truly cared about the environment instead of 🤑🤑🤑 they would build stuff to last decades... whether we are referring to a toaster, a fridge, a washing machine or a car the most environmentally friendly one's have longevity! inbuilt obsolescence is not environmentally responsible so by definition battery cars that are being scrapped after small accidents are horrific for the environment 🤷♂️🤷♂️
Oh you are so right that's the huge , bigger picture. The stuff we trash is crazy,,, refrigerators dryers washers toasters microwaves cars.
That's why I stopped using a microwave on the toaster I just warm up everything I need or toast it right on my glass top stove.
WTF dude. I thought you were making a fair amount of sense until you come up with that stupid 40, 50, $60,000 figure to change a battery.
I am driving up the Pacific coast today in my 25-year-old BMW wagon. I did have to replace the radiator this year, but that and a window motor and some gaskets are the only parts repairs in two and a half decades. BMW and MB have gone in the wrong direction…
Roughly, dont get anything later than an E46.
@@wxyzxdll correct the E46 was last great car BMW made.
@@forumboss2620 agree with you on Mercedes not BMW
@@wxyzxdll The E46 M3 had rear sub frame issues, VANOS issues, valve adjustments etc.. But they still were great cars once you did these services / repairs.
@@wxyzxdllI had a 2010 E60 M5, an oil sensor failed in 6 years, cost me 3k to replace. Never again.
My brother is trying to talk me into a 2025 Chevy Trailblazer. I don’t want that stupid engine.
RUN !
@ ikr? I’m doing my research and he said that was the best for the money. Frustrating
Sounds like it’s a case of “misery loves company.” 😢😢😢😢
OMG ! Buy any Mazda , Toyota or Honda in the same price range that is N.A. Unless you plan to trade before 50,000 miles .
😢😢😢😢 say to him you buy one first 😅😅
Great video. I'm driving a 1993 T-Bird as my daily driver, this video helps me justify it, apart from how much I like the car and it fits my life so well. Naturally aspirated V-8 all the way!
NEVER do your oil changes at 10k miles, regardless of what anyone tells you. Maximum at 5k miles, preferably every 3k miles. That's if you want to take care of your engine and free of sludge and premature wear.
6000 dollars for a front light fitting?! wow. I remember when they cost about $40 each side and you could replace them yourself.
Thanks for making complete sense of what’s going on in the car world 👍 I’ve recently spent £7500 on dpf system , oil leaks due to plastic gaskets. If the engine blows this would cost £14000 the car is only worth £15000
It seams it’s not worth owning cars out of warranty 🤷🏻♂️ crazy world
Get some acrylic silicone caulk at the hardware store and run it all around the outside of your gaskets. They will not leak.
I just placed an ad to sell my 2002 BMW 330ci convertible. It's a cream puff and 71,000 mi. Reading these comments I might just have to cancel the ad. I really love the car I just don't use it much but quality is there.
Love my older vehicles! Thanks for proving my point why I don't want a New car. We had a 2010 Challenger that spent so much time in the garage we used up our warranty and we got rid of it. Thank god. Loved the power and look but not the problems. My 2001 Mazda with 347,000 miles is fantastic with just regular maintenance and every once in a while replace parts. We've take care of it so it still looks nice. I also like the big windows. New car windows are also smaller and I just don't feel as safe due to lack of view.
It s a disposable car. You can drive Only 5 yrs. Then you need to buy a new one. That s a new policy from MB. 😂
Sadly, that seems to be a business model increasingly adopted by most automakers. Why build a vehicle that'll last 20 years when they can build something that will last barely the length of payments? Keeps folks on the hook for payments (and profits) til perpetuity.
Carbon parts are better
No wonder my Mercedes which I bought brand new and on the fifth year, the transmission went out and I junked it! I bought a Toyota and never have to visit the dealership again. Only idiots drive Mercedes
So sadly newer Hondas and Toyotas actually not reliable as they used to be Too much plastic way over to much Technology all of these turbo crap in newer cars
@@quincyrhinehart3635 I bought a 2012 rav4 v6. The newer ones are crap!!
ALL new cars are overengineered, overpriced, disposable junk... made to be discarded, not fixed.
Think aboutvit, in the wild west, if you tried to charge a cowboy $80,000 for a horse, you would to sh0t.......
@@actionjack4096 True...they hung horse thieves.
I'm retired in cold country. I'm close to grocery stores and can walk for my basics but really all I need is a golf cart. No relatives anymore and besides I wouldn't want to physically meet them even when all were alive. Right now, I take my car out only in dry weather and I have a first generation intrepid, putting 4thousand miles a yr on it or less only for dentist and drs when needed. Give me a simple vehicle but probably could not afford it now with all the hyped up prices which get you nothing in return.
All car manufacturers are making throw away cars now 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Yes they are….all of them
My 2016 Suzuki swift sport is so reliable my 2023 Nissan townstar van has had no end of problems
$6000 for a headlight. I payed less than that for most of the cars I purchased over the years.
I picked up a GS460 that needed minor work for less than that and it's a better car than the turd he's showing on the video lol.
The headlight does not cost $6000 it can be fixed for about $450 with used parts…
@marlonallen-v5y If you can find the parts. If the housing is broken up, you would have to replace it, although you can reuse the modules. I'm sure you can find a good used headlight assembly for significantly less with some searching.
@marlonallen-v5y If you can find the parts. If the housing is broken up, you would have to replace it, although you can reuse the modules. I'm sure you can find a good used headlight assembly for significantly less with some searching.
My Ford Fusion is 6 years old. I haven't treated it well - but even though that is the case, the only things I have had to do other than regular oil changes (78dollars at the dealership each year) is to change the wheels twice.
My sons 6 year old ford fusion just shit the bed, on the freeway, had it towed back to our house, apparently that motor has a design that makes replacing the pump that failed turns it into a throw away vehicle (which is what he ended up doing) because it cost more to pull the entire engine to fix the broken part than what the stupid vehicle was worth over all.
He replaced it with the latest generation Toyota Prius. Will see how long it lasts for. Who knows these days
Brilliant! I am now looking at getting an old classic.
same here!
Agreea
I’ve worked on older hybrids myself which some are beyond 15 years and the main battery is still original, just keep the battery air filter clean and drive reasonably without abusing the throttle as much as you can. Probably the quality is different across different countries. IDK?! The 12V auxiliary battery is usually okay to change but can be expensive. Mine is a deep cycle AGM battery which costs about $450 AUS.
all that plastic next to a hot engine what could go wrong
I never got rid off my old vehicles my family and friends always kept telling me to buy new car , I have been driving my 1996 Chevy Blazer for 24 years no problems just oil changes every 3,000 miles I have 1979 Chevy pickup C10 for 17 years no problems , I'm keeping them
Cheers
My Chevy Blazer has 246,000 miles engine sounds and drives like the day I bought it , and my 1979 Chevy pickup C10 Silverado has over 300,000 miles still driving strong the key is I do my oil change every 3,000
I will keep my wife's inherited 84 c10 silverado and my 71 delta 88 convertible. Drove both today😅
Glad you had good luck with the Blazer. I had a '98 GMC Jimmy that spent most of its life at the repair shop. Needed a head gasket at 5,000 miles and it never got any better. Only vehicle I ever owned that snapped a frame bolt. It was nice looking but it was cramped and we got rid of it as soon as we could. Most domestic stuff from the '80s and '90s was not good, I don't miss it at all.
The last new vehicle I purchased was a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Sport because the 2007 models were redesigned with power everything, plastic everything and tiny, underpowered engines. I also have a 1997 Jeep Cherokee. Both Jeeps have manual locks, steel bodies and the glorious inline 6 engine known for longevity. They are reliable, cheap and easy to fix.
Perhaps the long-term plan is to stop private vehicle ownership depriving people of personal mobility and freedom to enjoy the open road.
Nonsense. You can still have private vehicles. Just expect to pay more for it, subscription style.
For housing too
1995 Nissan Primera)
7 years of almost seamless owning and still in good shape and on the road
The climate objective is to get 'old cars' off the road sooner so you can buy the next generation 'cleaner' tech at a higher price. The manufacturers have to play along and cover their cost. People driving old cars is dirty > sell cars that don't last more than 5 years > regulate older cars out of existence or force people to buy new car > insurance refuses to insure a older car > objective met
"....that don't last more than 5 years." Uh, I think you are exaggerating. Our 19 year old hybrid Lexus has tons of plastic, yet the only pieces that failed were the dash (replaced after 10 years, free of charge by the dealership) and a couple of side windows trim.
My 2014 was in perfect condition when I sold it last year. It has the technology pack with super capacitor.
2:15 "parts are expensive" .. for the consumer yes, not to make.
That’s why I’ll never get rid of my naturally aspirated vr6 stick shift 3.2L with timing chain only had to replace the radiator and fuel pump so far at 200k miles
Got one too, but still lots if plastic. Whole inlet manifold, crack pipe and thermostat housing etc etc. Many electronic modules too
26 old my E39 hasn't got anything broken under the hood.
Yes, around the 24 year mark and 120,000k miles it had some oil leak and coolant leak issues from the gaskets, but after some maintenance and preventative chain and guides replacement, it now runs like a dream and engine looks as good as new after I had the cam covers acid dipped and painted.
We bought a Peugeot e-208 with 21k on the clock, which had its windows jam up half way up, along with other problems from day one. We had to sue the dealer to fix these as it was sold with a perfect inspection record, in order to make them fix the car...
Bought a brand new Hyundai Ioniq in 2018. The door seal went before I got to 20k miles under three years. Wasn't covered under warranty.
My bosses brand new audi Q7 had recorded 30 faults in 6 months. His electric seats stopped operating.
New cars are shite...
How depressing. So basically, wrt owning and operating a good car for say 10 years or so, we’re all basically fucked now. We’re all at the mercy of these jellybean manufacturers and in the end, we will own nothing. I fucking hate late stage capitalism.
there was a brief time in the early 2010s when mfg accidentally made a few cars that last forever. a lot of people think of a high voltage battery as a liability because of the Nissan leaf and prius, but if the battery is lipol and has a good thermal management system which is shared with a ice motor it will literally last forever like the chevy volt
I have been saying all of this for 5 years now and it's sad that most people I'm telling this to have not listened and they are paying big time for it just like I warned them they would and they are all in denial of it. I'm still driving my 90's built vehicles which I trust to drive me across the country if I need them to be problem-free. I'm able to repair and maintain all of those vehicles myself for very little money compared to the cost of any newer made vehicle today. What I disagree with you is that the people are asking for all these new safety features that newer cars come with. I have never heard a single person ever ask for any of these new nanny safety features before. In fact, I see people complaining about them that they can't just turn them off and they stay off. They have to spend 5 min trying to turn them off if they can every time they start their cars. These cars were all designed to only last as long as they are warranted on purpose. Car makers went out of their way to make sure that these newer cars will all start going bad as soon as their warranty expires costing their owners thousands of dollars to keep them on the road. Electronics are the weakest part of any car which is why 90s cars last 30 years and newer cars can't. The less electronics a car has, the longer it will last. So there is no way that I would ever consider buying an all-electric car. Those electric cars are just like a giant BIC lighter that you are supposed to throw away once it runs out of butane. So good luck selling that used-up BIC lighter in about 5 years. It will be worthless unless you spend 30k for a new battery and that will still not make those cars reliable again because those cars are now entirely electric which means all those parts will need to be replaced as well which means you will be spending lots of time at the dealerships who are the only people capable of repairing those cars slowly replacing parts every month as they all start to slowly fail. All electric cars are not serviceable by you anymore because you don't have access to the computers needed to diagnose these new electric vehicles. Car makers made sure to charge ridiculous amounts of money for access to those computers that even independent shops will have trouble to pay to access it. This was all designed to drain the people of all of their wealth rather quickly and there is no escaping it since every car maker in the world is now using this new business model. It doesn't matter anymore what brand of vehicle you decide to buy anymore, they are all doing this so you will be screwed the more electric that newer car is. I see these dummies acting all proud of these newer cars and I'm just laughing at them as those cars are really hurting their bank accounts. If you want a really safe car then buy a 60s or 70s model car. Those cars are built like tanks and will not kill you in a major car accident like these newer cars can. If you need your car to be constantly warning you and trying to prevent you from getting into an accident, then you need to learn how to drive and you shouldn't be on the road in the first place. I'm still seeing just as many wrecked cars as I did 30 years ago so these newer cars are not preventing accidents at all. And all of these newer cars are completely destroyed once they get into even a minor accident now because of the cost to repair them. So much for the environment and I hope you enjoy paying triple to insure these newer-built cars because those prices are only going to keep going higher compared to what they were before because insurance companies are not stupid enough to try to repair these cars because they know that its cheaper to just total that car than repair them. Car makers are also charging outlandish prices for their new cars today. I don't know who they plan on selling these cars to because people can't afford to buy a $50k Toyota Camry with their 90s salaries. So car makers better get used to having thousands of cars sitting in their lots unsold now because people in this country simply can't afford to spend that amount of money on them because they don't earn enough to purchase them. I would have bought a new Ferrari back in the 90s if that was the case. I didn't because I couldn't afford that amount of money and neither can the people today. Wages in this country have not gone up the same as the price of everything sold has so people are struggling just to survive and they don't have any money left to buy a newer car. People will spend their money on food before they buy a newer car. So car sales are going to get really slow in the future and might just come to a complete stop. The people who stupidly bought a newer car will be lucky to finish paying off that car and many will not so there will be lots of reppos coming in the future. Smart people will realize this and find a way to keep driving their old car if they still want to be able to drive to work every day. If they don't, they will find themselves out of a job because they will not have any way of getting to work anymore. Older cars are about to become a real valuable commodity since there are very few of them now compared to the newer cars out there. So buy yourself a old reliable car now while you still can buy one for cheap because those prices are already going up and those cars will become more expensive than these new cars are today for sure. That's because older cars were built to last and you can service them yourself. The most reliable older cars will be the new hot ticket in this country while newer cars will be sitting unsold until car makers return to their old business model again. If they don't return to that business model then they will more than likely go bankrupt because the people here don't have the money to afford to buy and maintain them once those cars warranty expires. Car makers need to lose all that electronic crap on their cars if they want to continue making and selling cars in this country. It's just that simple. They think they are going to make more money doing this and they won't because the people don't have that money to spend on them. They can't make what the people don't have and they are going to find that out the hard way. they already are. I have seen some dealerships still trying to sell to sell some of their brand-new 2023 models and it's now 2025. They don't even have any more room on their car lots for all the cars they can't sell. They have had to rent lots to store all of these cars they haven't sold yet. They are going to have to cut their prices in half if they want to sell those cars. And even then, it going to become hard to sell those cars because they are not built to last anymore and people are starting to realize that now. That knowledge is starting to sink in now and pretty soon, nobody will want to own these new cars anymore. Nobody wants a car that will only last 5 years before it needs to be thrown away because they won't be able to sell that car after 5 years for even one-quarter of what they paid for that car. It's even worse for all-electric cars because it will cost the owner money to dispose of that car because it costs lots of money to dispose of batteries properly. You can't just throw those cars away at the dump. They need to be completely dismantled to remove those batteries which costs lots of money that the owner will need to spend to dispose of that car's battery. So good luck if you were a sucker who didn't think buying a new car through before you bought it.
Well, when I go to car shows with 60s and 70s cars, every one has a newer or rebuilt engine and transmission. The entire interior had been replaced, and many body panels had been replaced. Rust had destroyed the frames as well.
Exceptions are those old cars that are rarely driven, and were kept in heated garages.
And let's not forget how many people's lives were saved by airbags and crumple zones.
My 68 Corvette used to average 13 mpg. Today, my 2024 Supra gets double the gas mileage and is much much faster.
There will always be pros and cons with older and newer vehicles, but the good outweighs the bad when it comes to safety and performance.
Its largely the emission regulations that pushes car manufacturers to reduce weight by down sizing the engine, uses turbo to compensate the power and further reduce weight by using plastic parts for better fuel economy.
Yes and the government pays for their existence
Well,
Not sure if it’s a good comparison, but if u look at the quality of packaging if u go out to do groceries has gone down a ton.
The plastic and the carry handle around a 6-pack of 1.5L Coca-Cola bottles have significantly decreased in quality; they often break when you try to carry them. Not to mention, the carry handle has been completely removed in the EU altogether.
I mean, plastic is OK. But the environmental restrictions and regulations are resulting in very bad quality plastics.
If u look at a bucket u bought 20 years ago or so, compared to a newly bought one, the new stuff is flimsy as can be.
Probably same story under the hood.
Hi Marcel, you are totally right about that. Look at modern paper bags, snow shovels, and virtually everything including household appliances. All substandard and engineered to last 5 years in my opinion. It’s simply not the same as it used to be and yes some
Plastic is fine in not such critical areas but there are compromises to quality overall
I am appreciative of my 2013 Honda CRV EX which is naturally aspirated. Simple to operate and simple to maintain. And after Covid, my mileage is only 69,500 for an 11 year old Honda. I’ll be keeping it until the wheels fall off!
New vehicles are built for the sale, not the trail
I had to replace a plastic fitting radiator hose on my Audi. It took me two hours. I had to peel away the old plastic bit by bit. It almost ruined the radiator.
😳😲
Anything newer than 2017 isn't built to last and some cars made even before that weren't designed to last. The best time period for modern cars was between 2005 and 2015
I would say the best time for cars was around 1992 to about 2016. Now they are absolute trash
@@dampergoldenrod4156 Yes, older cars can have their advantages, but they also have disadvantages. In the 80s and 90s "some" cars were over engineered because they didn't have advanced computer programs to figure out how strong a part needs to be so they just over built the part instead. I was specifically talking about "modern cars" that have airbags, ABS and do better in crash tests. Car from before 2005 weren't as safe. Plus older cars are harder to get quality parts for and they aren't as fuel efficient. That's why something like a Toyota or Honda from 2005 to 2015 is probably the sweet spot where you get reliability, simplicity, efficiency, safety and easy to find and cheap parts.
Na Between 1950 and 1980. Cars were crap in the 80s. Then good again between 1990 to 2005.
@@radioactivebanana6774 That depends on the specific make and model you're talking about. in the 50s to 80s there were plenty of junk cars. Just like there were plenty of junk cars in the 80s and 90s. My point is that "some" old cars like an old diesel mercedes w123 from the 70s and early 80s could last forever, but a Ford Pinto from that same time period was junk. The problem with 50s to 70s cars is they were A LOT less safe in a car accident and depending on the model a lot of the parts are impossible to find. Plus they take more work to maintain adjusting carbs and ignition points becomes a hassle and cars from that period were very bad for fuel efficiency which is always your biggest cost of ownership.
Best cars in the history were those produced between 1990 and 2005. Period.
1999 Audi S5 C5. Gorgeous 4.2 v8 engine, electric everything. Literally never breaks, never let's me down. Second best car I've ever owned.
most of these cars are great for the first owner. once the warranty runs out i would run away
Lease and not buy
I drive a 2001 volvo S60 with more than 400K km on the clock, I give it good service with no sparing on parts and the car shows absolutely no signs of wanting to stop riding. As I live in the EU, I will most probably buy an EV at some point and I do not consider EVs as per se bad. But out of practical considerations I give this volvo ca. 10 more years on the road. The NA engine and the manual gearbox should not die before 1M km, the body does not rust and there are no problems with wiring and relatively simple electronics. And what's also extremely important - despite its age it is a pretty safe car with good grip on the road.
Its sick that a Mercedes Benz, one of the most expensive luxury vehicles has cheapened out on almost everything. I was never impressed with them except for the top models.
This is why I am keeping my 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback with MANUAL TRANSMISSION (no transmission issues) with 176,000 miles on it. When oil changes are done regularly, these 2.0L NA engines go 300K to 500K miles!! I have always done my own work on my cars. When it was time for new balljoints I found they are integral to the lower control arm and has to be replaced as a unit. Well, I have new bushings as well as a result, so the ride is great. AS FOR COST....I got a brand new set of Ford lower controls arms, still in the plastic, off of ebay for $220 FOR BOTH. That was a steal. Labor was free as I did it myself. Doing my own oil changes cost about $35 for quality oil and filter instead of $70 to have it done (Whatever happened to $19.95?). My engine still runs like new. It is a great and fun car, when you don't have the "manual automatic" DCT. The only thing that makes ZERO sense is the times I go out to the car for the first time of the day, I open the driver's door, and the radiator fan comes on. WTF? How is the driver's door connected to the radiator fan system?? I replaced the fan control module and nothing changed, so that's not it.
Big reliability issues apparently now surfacing in Europe with Peugeot and Ford 1.1 and1.2 litre turbo engines that they have widely used to replace their 1.4 to 2.0 litre engines
Too much compression for such as small space. Physics will let you know what’s practical and what’s not. I guess the engineers think they can squeeze as much power out of smaller and smaller sized engines without compromising quality, which I guess if designed properly it would seem feasible.
i own a used car,and i love this channel,he give so much great information to the public.keep videos coming.👍
Thanks. I hope my content is helpful and informative.
Dont worry about the engine, the subframes will rust within 5 years.
That’s fair at least in northern climates and salt belt
@bikeman123- I am on 42 years and nothing but surface rust here and there.
They last longer now than they did in the 80's. Rust proofing at the factory is much better I would say.
@@chrispapanastasopoulos9192That’s for sure , the older cars dissolved before your eyes .
My 03 Focus had a rusted body, subframe and exhaust by '18 or '19. My - cheap, but good and semi retired - mechanic told me to move on, but I asked him to fix it.
Then my clutch started to fail and I finally gave in. Still miss that car though and wonder if a couple thousand euros could have kept it on the road till now.
Watching modern cars issues today makes me appreciate my w126 even more. Had an inline 6 3litre. Love it.
They are definitely a step up from what we see today.
I still prefer cars from the 60's and 70's.
Not so much about the fuel economy, but because anyone with effort can turn a wrench and fix them. It isn't brain surgery.
Now... Even certified technicians have issues figuring out what goes wrong with new vehicles. It's all a waste. And we are being forced to pay insane prices for glorified LEGO calculators. No thank you.
You are 100% correct. Plastic and electronic complexity are killing any long term reliability in most cars today. 😢
We are talking about modern high tech plastic here which have several advantages compared to traditional materials, including low weight, and it's designed to be able to resist heat. Don't compare it to the plastic used in kids' toys.
@AA-le9ls not to mention...far cheaper.😆
I'm surprised they haven't started using plastic mufflers, catalytic convertors, and tailpipes! Maybe soon.
😂 ikr
Good lord don’t give them any ideas 😱😱😱
sssssshhhhhh!!!!!
Plastic pistons
My 2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid over 13 years old, no problem except ac and door handles at trade in. Personal maintenance from new, it retailed for less than $21k new. I replaced the 12v battery twice $60 each time. It still had the original brake pads at trade in. I don't know what your talking about. Traded at over 140,000 miles.
The plastic parts should be very cheap to replace, mechanic said the newer parts costs more to buy than the old metal parts it replaced and takes longer to replace
It is a vicious cycle that they are using.
It's not just the engines. It's the
extra gears in the transmissions in a similar sized space causing durability issues. BUT they supposedly contribute to lower emissions.
If you change "good oil" And flush engine when it's required for turbo engine and don't forget good detergent for fuel injection. In my humble 40 years in German cars. They rarely have the problem you mentioned. I said my experience 90% of the owners won't taking any mantaince《good additive 》until it broken, most of us love these kind of owner. 😢😢😢
Won't do anything for plastic housings around the engine or burnt out electronics.
My 2024 Supra with twin scroll turbo 3.0 liter i6 engine will switch on a hurricane wind - generated fan after I turn off the engine. (After accelerating briskly within a few minutes of shutting off the engine)
So there are ways to keep the engine bay plastics from becoming brittle. I always place a windshield screen up when parking for a while on a sunny day. This really helps to keep the interior cooler, especially when the interior is black.
BMW in the uk charge approx £8k to £10k for a hybrid battery in the 3 series. So if you bought a 3 series second hand for less than £10k and then next year the battery goes.... Then its scrap isnt it? Just silly money for new battery. My house storage battery with only slightly less capacity retails at £3k so how bmw can justify the price is beyond me.
I have a friend with a low mileage 2004 Lincoln Town Car. Got it from an older couple. He loves it and says he doesn't care if its a grandpaw car. Drivetrain is basically Crown Vic and very reliable. Comfortable car also.
I ride a 2012 BMW R1200GS - Its a Boxer Twin
It does 55mpg, has a 125mph top speed, shaft drive and *NEVER* ever, ever goes wrong - as its an iconic 100yr old design evolution
Its parked outside in ALL weathers, all the time, scorching hot & devastatingly freezing cold (Like the trusty VW Beetle Flat-Four)
I use it 350+ days a year, and it costs an embarrassing small amount to insurance etc . . . .and ridiculously small £'s amounts in 'consumables' , and Ive now done 62,000 miles
I have a top box, voluminous panniers & a sturdy back pack, so everyday living is a 'doddle'
New cars - Nah, no thanks !
Thanks for your feedback at BMW we shall use this testimony at our weekly meetings to discuss new ways of maximizing profits in our motorbike department. 😂😂😂😂
I’ve got a 1996 BMW R1100GS , it’s done 70k miles and runs very sweet , I took it on a trip to the Scottish highlands this year and it did the job perfectly through fast sweeping bends to very tight mountain routes .
@@allseeingotto2912 - Agreed, Its the only German Bike i've had . . . . . & i wish id known how good they were when i was swapping & changing Jap bikes every few years!. Wonder if the newer Water-cooled models are as good !
Thanks for this video. You helped me appreciate all the more why I drive older vehicles that I can repair in my back yard. Thanks again.
Glad to help
Coz of “green transition”. Use more plastic to reduce weights and less emission. Result is drop on quality and reliability. Co of EV and fines they occurs are forced to rise the price which less and less people will buy. Now, do you see the future how it will be? It’s simple mathematics
That’s true
Excellent video. I have a 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis that has an NA 4.6L V8, and aside from replacing the plastic intake manifold at 100K, I have never had an issue and it’s still running strong today.
Nice
Mother in law has one. Runs like a champ.
I don't understand why people still but new cars if you want to send a message to the car manufacturers to stop making garbage let them go out of business but unfortunately I'm convinced most people are stupid burning their money and throwing it at the car dealers
Some people like to show off to their neighbors and friends.
Most people don’t understand anything, they are consumer sheep .
People just don’t know what their car is underneath so therefore really worth. Their perception is based on brand’s appearance. Modern cars are just made for modern and normal people, which is sadly exploited by most manufacturers.
@cristianc.6860 well said
Greetings from the U.K. I’m 60YO, I’ve done most of my car maintenance myself over the years. I agree with most of this video. My first car was a 1974 Renault 12, for the time it was ok, but ‘70s cars were pretty crap; rust, rubbish electrics etc. The best cars came in the late 1990’s, rust problems were mostly solved, electrics were much better, fuel injection was well engineered and reliable. But now cars are not so good, I worked on a modern BMW that had an intake manifold cast in plastic- absolutely mad!
Emission standards are the culprit.
@actualfacts1055--- This is correct. I wish everyone else would talk about the actual facts.
For plastic parts? I don't think.😂That's corporate greed. You can blame the turbo engines partly on emission standards.
Emissions and fuel economy standards.
@@tid418 Yep, but Trump might overturn that.
If environmental regulations aimed to protect nature but inadvertently led to vehicles becoming disposable commodities, the net environmental impact may have been counterproductive. The manufacturing of new vehicles requires significant resource extraction and energy consumption, while premature disposal of vehicles creates substantial waste. A more effective approach would balance emissions standards with vehicle longevity and repairability to achieve genuine environmental benefits.
If they know when food expires qnd no longer safe to eat, engineers know life expectancy of engines/parts.
There is an undisclosed long term problem with heat and oil giving off toxins that find there way into the cabin.
Plastic household kettles spring to mind.
I get my oil changed before 5000 miles. The shop owner brags to people (for me ) about how well I take care of my car
Similar to myself, I only drive 2,500 per year, and get the car serviced every year. Even get the auto transmission oil changed every 3 years, which is recommended, but in my case every 7,500 miles so probably OTT. 14 year old engine ticks over like new.
@@mart34you should get oil changed at least twice a year . Oil oxidation and moisture is not your friend when you don’t drive much
@@Maatson_my last car lasted 16 years and I only changed the oil every 2 years. Left it for almost 3 years once.
What the point if the rest of the car is falling apart around the engine?
@@chrishart8548 I am on 42 years like that on one of them
Thanks!
. . . can i just add that 120,000 miles seems to be a 'ceiling' too !
Gone are days when a Volvo (like the P1800s) would reach 1M miles
Need more car channels being the voice and pointing out the issues on these highway robbery vehicles...
thank you